Support for adding curtains to vertical blind tracks

ABSTRACT

A support to attach curtains onto existing vertical blind tracks and head rails. The support incorporates a hook for attaching a curtain and a fixture to snap into existing vertical blind hooks that are already on the track thus forming a male/female locking arrangement. The supports are inserted into uniquely spaced pockets on rear side of the curtains and the fixture will snap into the fittings on existing vertical blind tracks thus forming a flat panel of curtain covering a window. The existing pulley mechanism for opening and closing the vertical blinds can then be used to open and close the curtains. This invention will form a male/female locking arrangement between the curtain and the vertical blind track or head rail. 
     The advantage is lower cost for the end user. 
     Unlike MOIR W001/86105 where a snap fastener is used the support incorporates a hook for attaching curtains. 
     Also the invention is unlike WALBACH DE4117863 where his fixture has an arrow shaped head that fixes directly onto the vertical blind track my invention uses the existing hooks that are already fitted onto a vertical blind track used for supporting the vertical blinds. The advantage is that the users will be able to change easily from curtains to vertical blinds for the summer and winter months. 
     Another advantage is that no additional attachment is required as conventional curtains are used and the male female locking arrangement of my invention will attach to the existing hooks that are used to support the vertical blinds.

This invention relates to a support for curtains with an attachment or rod engagement mechanism that snaps into place to form a male/female locking arrangement mechanism between the support and the vertical blind support as in FIGS. 1-7 but is not limited to these shapes.

Vertical blinds are an expensive soft furnishing for the home and office, much of the cost to manufacture the vertical blind is in manufacturing the actual track or head rail and the complex winding mechanism to rotate the slats and the opening and closing mechanism. The vertical slats or vanes that are snapped onto the track by way of a hook type attachment on the track or head rail are relatively low cost to manufacture. The vertical slats provide poor insulation from the cold and are subject to bowing once they have been laundered a few times. The bottom chain of weights often becomes detached from the louvers and breaks.

To overcome this problem there is a need for a curtain support that can be attached to existing vertical blind head rails tracks. This will minimise the time and cost involved of purchasing a new curtain track. A curtain hanging within the window recess will also offer more insulation than a curtain hanging above the window since it is less prone to draughts.

The essential features of this invention are:

Quick and easy to attach curtains onto existing vertical blind tracks

It is not necessary to install a new curtain track if an existing vertical blind track is already installed.

Curtain fabric is hanging closer to the window within the frame giving windows increased insulation.

Using existing vertical blind tracks will reduce land fill wastes

Existing pulleys can be used to open and close curtains.

The tracks can be converted to become motorised and allow the product to be operated at the touch of a button.

The tracks can be used for room separators, separating a room with curtains using this support system.

The curtain supports can be removed and reverted back to louvers or slats if desired during the summer months.

No other attachments are required since the end user is using conventional curtains and the hooks that are already on the track.

FIG. 1-7 illustrates a curtain support that can be snapped onto an existing vertical blind track but it is not limited to these shapes.

FIG. 8 shows a typical vertical blind head rail or track with attachments for vertical blind slats or louvers.

FIG. 9 shows how the support can be attached to the vertical blind track A typical vertical blind head rail comprises of a track which incorporates a set attachments (No 1) for vertical slats or louvers that move along the plurality of the track (No 2) horizontally (FIG. 8)

FIGS. 1-7 shows the curtain support that can be snapped into position forming a locking mechanism to support and hold the curtain in position although it is not limited to these shapes.

The support comprises of a hooked shaped holder (No 3) attached to stop the curtain material from detaching from the support

(FIGS. 1-7) and a rod male/female engagement mechanism to attach and snap onto existing holders on the vertical blind track. The rod engagement mechanism can be snapped into position by holding the curtain support at a 60 degree angle (FIG. 9) The above identified angle has been found to work well, although other angles may be used.

The curtain support may be formed from a single composite moulded part using a polypropylene or a recycled plastic although it is not limited to these materials. The rod engagement mechanism (FIG. 1-7) is sized to fit easily but not loosely into a vertical blind louver slat holder, this engagement will form a male-female (FIG. 9) locking mechanism and prevent the curtain from detaching when moved horizontally along the track. Noticeably the curtain supports do no interfere with the actual track and are able to move freely along the track. The width that each curtain support is attached to the curtain fabric is dependent on the width of each of the vertical louver or vane holders that are on the vertical blind track or head rail (FIG. 8) although it is not limited to this width

The Curtain supports are preferably spaced such a distance to be equal to the distance of the vertical louver or slat supports on the head rail. The system as a whole provides a rigid support system to move curtains freely along the track.

In operation of the pulleys or drawing structure to open and close the curtains thus enabling the curtains to move horizontally and freely along the track forming a complete panel of fabric over the window. It should be noted that the vertical blind cord that operates the movement mechanism to rotate the slats or louvers should stay in the vertical position once the curtain supports have been attached this cord will then become redundant and can be removed for aesthetic reasons.

The curtain support can be used in conjunction with any other motorised attachments that can be added to vertical blind tracks without affecting the essential features functions and/or attributes described herein. Furthermore it should be noted that the curtain support may be any size and is not limited to its shape or form.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the essential attributes thereof: therefore the illustrated embodiment should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive in the scope of the invention.

CROSS-REFERANCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(56) Documents Cited: WO 2001/086105 A1 DE 004117883 A1 DE 003821593 A1 DE 003539291 A1 DE 202004008802 U U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,246 A US 20110000630 A1 US 20060237145 A1 

1. A curtain attachment means comprising at least one support comprising a hook to attach to a curtain and a rod male engagement mechanism to connect each support to a corresponding attachment of a vertical blind head rail; wherein the attachment of the vertical blind head rail comprises a hook female engagement mechanism which engages with the rod male engagement mechanism and wherein the attachment of the vertical blind head rail is moveable along the vertical blind head rail.
 2. A curtain attachment comprising of housing to hold in place the curtain and a snapping male/female locking arrangement fixture to attach to the vertical blind carrier.
 3. A curtain attachment according to any of the preceding claims, in which an attachment means, can be varied for curtains to be attached to vertical blind tracks.
 4. An attachment which can be snapped into existing carriers or travellers, and are detachable for replacing or laundering curtains without the need for adding additional curtain tracks. 